Landscape of Change Results

Have Changes Occured Between 1880 and Now?

Birds

Results

How have bird species changed from 1880 to now? Most of us would probably assume there have been changes between now and the 1880’s when the Champlain Society was holding field courses on Mount Desert Island (MDI). However, to properly answer this question, we compared the Champlain Society’s records from 4 years of field courses, to the past 4 years of eBird and iNaturalist data from 2018 – 2021 on MDI.

What we found was quite interesting! The Champlain Society recorded 98 species, which is less than half (47%) of the 210 species recorded in modern times by eBird and iNaturalist. Today, we see 35 more species with a ‘common’ relative abundance (n = 95), than historically recorded (n = 60). We also looked at changes of historical species, and found that 8% of these species increased in relative abundance (Table 1), 14% decreased (Table 2), and 76% exhibited no change (Figure 1). Table 1 also includes more notably increasing species that were not even seen by the Champlain Society but are now ‘uncommon’ or ‘common’ on MDI. Some examples of the 8% of historic species that have increased are Black-throated Blue Warbler (Figure 2), Blue Jay (Figure 3), and Eastern Phoebe (Figure 4). These species’ increases can be attributed to changes in the landscape such as human development, and the conversion of forests from boreal/coniferous to mixed/deciduous. Examples of the 14% of historic species that have decreased are American Woodcock (Figure 5), Black-crowned Night-Heron (Figure 6), and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Figure 7). These species’ decreases could be attributed to changes in the landscape such as the loss of boreal forests, fields, and the infrastructural development by humans on the island.

We also wanted to look more closely at the species observed today, that were not recorded historically by the Champlain Society’s efforts. There are 82 species not recorded historically, but are regularly documented by observers today (Table 3). These species are those whose ranges have shifted north due to climate change, and those that can be attributed to human-caused changes on the landscape. This could include the changes to more deciduous forests, human development, and non-native species introduced by humans (e.g., House Sparrow, European Starling, etc.). For a complete list of relative abundance changes by species see Table 4.

Species Changes

Figure 1. This figure shows the number of bird species recorded by the Champlain Society in the 1880’s that have increased, decreased, and showed no change in realtive abundance from the 1880’s to present day. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by eBird and iNaturalist.

Notably Increasing Species

Table 1. This table shows the species recorded by the Champlain Society with noteable increases in relative abundance. Also included are species with intensive increases in relative abundance that were not recored in the 1880’s by the Champlain Society. There are 33 species that are now ‘common’ on MDI, and 19 species that are ‘uncommon’ that were not present historically. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by eBird and iNaturalist.

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‘R. a.’ = Relative abundance

Common name	Scientific name	R. a. 1880’s	R. a. modern	R. a. changes
Black-throated Blue Warbler	Setophaga caerulescens	very rare	common	increased
Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	rare	common	increased
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	rare	common	increased
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	very rare	uncommon	increased
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe	rare	common	increased
Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	rare	common	increased
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	very rare	uncommon	increased
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	rare	common	increased
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	not detected	uncommon	increased
Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata	not detected	uncommon	increased
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	not detected	common	increased
Cape May Warbler	Setophaga tigrina	not detected	uncommon	increased
Common Eider	Somateria mollissima	not detected	common	increased
Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula	not detected	common	increased
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	not detected	common	increased
Common Raven	Corvus corax	not detected	common	increased
Cooper’s Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	not detected	uncommon	increased
Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	not detected	common	increased
Eastern Towhee	Pipilo erythrophthalmus	not detected	common	increased
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens	not detected	common	increased
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	not detected	uncommon	increased
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	not detected	common	increased
Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	not detected	common	increased
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	not detected	uncommon	increased
Great Crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus crinitus	not detected	uncommon	increased
Great Egret	Ardea alba	not detected	uncommon	increased
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	not detected	uncommon	increased
Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	not detected	common	increased
House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	not detected	common	increased
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	not detected	common	increased
Laughing Gull	Leucophaeus atricilla	not detected	common	increased
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	not detected	uncommon	increased
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	not detected	common	increased
Merlin	Falco columbarius	not detected	common	increased
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	not detected	common	increased
Nelson’s Sparrow	Ammospiza nelsoni	not detected	common	increased
Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	not detected	common	increased
Northern Gannet	Morus bassanus	not detected	common	increased
Palm Warbler	Setophaga palmarum	not detected	uncommon	increased
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	not detected	common	increased
Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	not detected	common	increased
Pine Warbler	Setophaga pinus	not detected	common	increased
Red-necked Grebe	Podiceps grisegena	not detected	uncommon	increased
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	not detected	common	increased
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	not detected	common	increased
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Corthylio calendula	not detected	uncommon	increased
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	not detected	common	increased
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	not detected	uncommon	increased
Swamp Sparrow	Melospiza georgiana	not detected	common	increased
Tennessee Warbler	Leiothlypis peregrina	not detected	uncommon	increased
Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	not detected	uncommon	increased
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	not detected	common	increased
Veery	Catharus fuscescens	not detected	uncommon	increased
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	not detected	common	increased
White-winged Scoter	Melanitta deglandi	not detected	common	increased
Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	not detected	common	increased
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel	Oceanites oceanicus	not detected	uncommon	increased
Wood Duck	Aix sponsa	not detected	common	increased
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	not detected	common	increased
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	not detected	uncommon	increased

Figure 2. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.

Figure 3. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.

Figure 4. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.

Noteably Decreasing Species

Table 2. This table shows the species that exhibited noteable decreases in relative abundance since the 1880’s. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by eBird and iNaturalist.

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‘R. a.’ = Relative abundance

Common name	Scientific name	R. a. 1880’s	R. a. modern	R. a. changes
American Woodcock	Scolopax minor	common	rare	decreased
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	common	rare	decreased
Black-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus	common	rare	decreased
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	common	very rare	decreased
Black-legged Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	uncommon	very rare	decreased
Canada Warbler	Cardellina canadensis	common	rare	decreased
Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica	common	rare	decreased
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	common	very rare	decreased
Passenger Pigeon	Ectopistes migratorius	rare	extinct	decreased
Pine Siskin	Spinus pinus	common	rare	decreased
Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus	common	rare	decreased
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris	common	rare	decreased

Figure 5. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.

Figure 6. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.

Figure 7. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) modern day distribution across MDI. Data provided by eBird and iNaturalist, 2018 - 2021.

Modern Species not Recorded Historically

Table 3. This table shows the species that are seen regularly (those with the relative frequencies of rare, uncommon, and common) on MDI, but were not documented in the 1880’s by the Champlain Society’s efforts.

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Common name	Scientific name	Relative abundance
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	rare
American Oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus	rare
Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisaea	rare
Atlantic Puffin	Fratercula arctica	rare
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	rare
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	uncommon
Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata	uncommon
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	rare
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	common
Cape May Warbler	Setophaga tigrina	uncommon
Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	rare
Common Eider	Somateria mollissima	common
Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula	common
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	common
Common Murre	Uria aalge	rare
Common Raven	Corvus corax	common
Cooper’s Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	uncommon
Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	common
Eastern Towhee	Pipilo erythrophthalmus	common
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens	common
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	uncommon
Field Sparrow	Spizella pusilla	rare
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	common
Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	common
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	uncommon
Great Crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus crinitus	uncommon
Great Egret	Ardea alba	uncommon
Great Shearwater	Ardenna gravis	rare
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	uncommon
Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	common
House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	common
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	common
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	rare
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	rare
Laughing Gull	Leucophaeus atricilla	common
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	uncommon
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	rare
Lincoln’s Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	rare
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	common
Merlin	Falco columbarius	common
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	common
Nelson’s Sparrow	Ammospiza nelsoni	common
Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	common
Northern Gannet	Morus bassanus	common
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	rare
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	rare
Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus cooperi	rare
Palm Warbler	Setophaga palmarum	uncommon
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	common
Philadelphia Vireo	Vireo philadelphicus	rare
Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus	common
Pine Warbler	Setophaga pinus	common
Razorbill	Alca torda	rare
Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	rare
Red-necked Grebe	Podiceps grisegena	uncommon
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	rare
Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	rare
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	common
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	common
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	rare
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Corthylio calendula	uncommon
Sanderling	Calidris alba	rare
Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea	rare
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	common
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	uncommon
Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	rare
Swamp Sparrow	Melospiza georgiana	common
Tennessee Warbler	Leiothlypis peregrina	uncommon
Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor	uncommon
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	common
Veery	Catharus fuscescens	uncommon
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus	rare
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	rare
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	common
White-rumped Sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	rare
White-winged Scoter	Melanitta deglandi	common
Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	common
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel	Oceanites oceanicus	uncommon
Wood Duck	Aix sponsa	common
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	common
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	uncommon
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	rare

Total Species List Changes

Table 4. This table breaks down of all species recorded by the Champlain Society with their relative abundances from the 1880’s and today. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by eBird and iNaturalist.

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‘R. a.’ = Relative abundance

Common name	Scientific name	R. a. 1880’s	R. a. modern
Alder Flycatcher	Empidonax alnorum	common	common
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	rare	uncommon
American Black Duck	Anas rubripes	common	common
American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	common	common
American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	common	common
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	common	common
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	common	common
American Woodcock	Scolopax minor	common	rare
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	common	common
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	common	rare
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	common	common
Barred Owl	Strix varia	uncommon	common
Bay-breasted Warbler	Setophaga castanea	common	uncommon
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	common	common
Black Guillemot	Cepphus grylle	common	common
Black Scoter	Melanitta americana	rare	uncommon
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	common	common
Black-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus erythropthalmus	common	rare
Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	common	common
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	common	very rare
Black-legged Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	uncommon	very rare
Black-throated Blue Warbler	Setophaga caerulescens	very rare	common
Black-throated Green Warbler	Setophaga virens	common	common
Blackburnian Warbler	Setophaga fusca	common	common
Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	rare	common
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius	common	common
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus	uncommon	uncommon
Bonaparte’s Gull	Chroicocephalus philadelphia	uncommon	common
Boreal Chickadee	Poecile hudsonicus	rare	very rare
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus	common	common
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	rare	common
Canada Warbler	Cardellina canadensis	common	rare
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	common	common
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Setophaga pensylvanica	common	common
Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica	common	rare
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina	common	common
Common Loon	Gavia immer	uncommon	common
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	common	common
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	common	common
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	common	common
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	common	common
Downy Woodpecker	Dryobates pubescens	common	common
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	very rare	uncommon
Eastern Kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus	uncommon	rare
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe	rare	common
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	common	common
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	common	common
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	uncommon	common
Hairy Woodpecker	Dryobates villosus	common	common
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	common	common
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	common	common
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea	rare	very rare
Leach’s Storm-Petrel	Hydrobates leucorhous	rare	rare
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	common	common
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	uncommon	common
Long-tailed Duck	Clangula hyemalis	very rare	very rare
Magnolia Warbler	Setophaga magnolia	common	common
Nashville Warbler	Leiothlypis ruficapilla	common	uncommon
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	common	common
Northern Harrier	Circus hudsonius	rare	uncommon
Northern Parula	Setophaga americana	common	common
Northern Waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis	rare	rare
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	common	common
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla	common	common
Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	very rare	very rare
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	rare	very rare
Pine Siskin	Spinus pinus	common	rare
Purple Finch	Haemorhous purpureus	common	common
Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	rare	common
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	common	common
Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus	common	common
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	very rare	uncommon
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	uncommon	common
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	rare	very rare
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris	common	common
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	uncommon	rare
Ruffed Grouse	Bonasa umbellus	common	rare
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	common	common
Semipalmated Sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	common	common
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	uncommon	common
Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus	uncommon	rare
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	rare	common
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	common	common
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius	common	common
Swainson’s Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	common	common
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	common	common
Vesper Sparrow	Pooecetes gramineus	rare	rare
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	common	common
White-winged Crossbill	Loxia leucoptera	rare	uncommon
Wilson’s Warbler	Cardellina pusilla	rare	rare
Winter Wren	Troglodytes hiemalis	common	common
Yellow Warbler	Setophaga petechia	common	common
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris	common	rare
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	common	common
Eastern Whip-poor-will	Antrostomus vociferus	rare	very rare
Passenger Pigeon	Ectopistes migratorius	rare	extinct
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	common	very rare
Purple Martin	Progne subis	rare	very rare

Methodological Information

The historical dataset from the Champlain Society was collected from early July through the first week of September 1880 – 1883. To properly compare these data to modern day, we used eBird and iNaturalist data filtered to the same early July through the first week of September time frame, and over the same number of years from 2018 – 2021. To compare how often these species were/are detected, we had to create a qualitative descriptor properly assigned to the species as the historical dataset did not allow for a quantitative analysis. These designations were assigned based on the Champlain Society’s notes, and other sources describing species abundance around that time. For the modern dataset we used a count of the number of times a species was reported and designated a category based on these bins: < 5 = ‘very rare’, 5 > 20 = ‘rare’, 20 > 50 = ‘uncommon’, > 50 = ‘common.’

We used these detection frequencies to compare modern and historic times, and separated species with changes greater than one category into the ‘notably’ increasing or decreasing tables. For example, if a species was common in the 1880’s but is now uncommon, that would not constitute a notable change. Whereas, if a species was common in the 1880’s but is now rare, that would qualify as a notably decreasing species. We made this distinction considering the qualitative nature of our data with broad bins in which species were assigned, and on the basis that qualitative data like this should not be used to distinguish fine scale details.

Insects

Results

How have insects species changed from 1900 to now? To answer this question, we first delved into the efforts of the iNaturalist community and compared this to a historical collection of insects compiled by Proctor in the early 1900’s. On the initial look at these data, there was a stark difference between the two datasets. Proctor had collected 1360 species, while the iNaturalist community over the last 10 years only identified 362 species. Much of this can be attributed to the difference in methods: Proctor’s specimen collection method vs. the far less invasive photo documentation of iNaturalist. While iNaturalist’s methods are much safer and less invasive, there are limitations as many insects can only be identified to species in the hand with equipment such as loupes, microscopes, etc. This means we need your help!! Community efforts by citizens scientists are invaluable, and can accomplish documentation on scales matched by no other. In order to properly make inferences from the iNaturalist dataset, we need more effort in and around Acadia National Park to document more species that are present in the area.

The modern iNaturalist community identified 20% (n = 274) of the 1360 species that Proctor documented in the 1900’s. Interestingly, the rest of the 362 species identified by the iNaturalist community (88 species) were not recorded by Proctor’s efforts, and were likely not present in the early 1900’s (Table 1). For a full look at the species diversity between all families, see Figure 1.

We also wanted to look more specifically at pollinating insects, and we saw a similar trend to the total dataset. There were 199 pollinating species recorded by iNaturalist, and 762 recorded by Proctor. iNaturalist recorded only 10% (n = 134) of the 762 pollinating species that Proctor documented. iNaturalist also identified 65 pollinating species that were not recorded by Proctor (Table 2). To look a little closer at pollinators, we explored just the bumblebees (Bombus spp.).

Threatened and endangered species were another category we wanted to explore the status of on MDI. Historically, Proctor collected specimens of a Maine endangered species known as the Edwards’ Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii). According to the MDIFW Endangered Species Program, this species today has only been found at three sites in southwestern Maine. The extensive reduction in abundance of this species can largely be attributed to the loss of their native habitat, pitch pine-scrub oak barrens, which have been reduced to less than 50% of their historic range (MDIFW Endangered Species Program, 2003).

Modern Species not Recorded by Proctor

Table 1. This table shows the 88 species that the iNaturalist community identified over the past 10 years, that were not recorded by Proctor in the 1900s. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by iNaturalist and the National Park Service.

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	Order	Super family	Family	Scientific name	Common name
16	Hymenoptera	Apoidea	Apidae	Bombus griseocollis	Brown-belted Bumble Bee
17	Hymenoptera	Apoidea	Apidae	Bombus impatiens	Common Eastern Bumble Bee
87	Hymenoptera	Apoidea	Apidae	Xylocopa virginica	Eastern Carpenter Bee
18	Lepidoptera	Bombycoidea	Saturniidae	Callosamia promethea	Promethea Silkmoth
45	Lepidoptera	Bombycoidea	Sphingidae	Hemaris aethra	Diervilla Clearwing
59	Lepidoptera	Bombycoidea	Sphingidae	Manduca sexta	Carolina Sphinx
13	Lepidoptera	Gelechioidea	Gelechiidae	Arogalea cristifasciella	White Stripe-backed Moth
41	Lepidoptera	Gelechioidea	Autostichidae	Gerdana caritella
79	Lepidoptera	Gelechioidea	Gelechiidae	Scrobipalpula manierreorum
48	Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Idaea dimidiata	Single-dotted Wave
56	Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Macaria aemulataria	Common Angle
57	Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Macaria pustularia	Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth
63	Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Nematocampa resistaria	Horned Spanworm Moth
76	Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Rheumaptera prunivorata	Cherry Scallop Shell Moth
86	Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Xanthotype	Crocus Geometer Moths
84	Lepidoptera	Hepialoidea	Hepialidae	Sthenopis pretiosus	Gold-spotted Ghost Moth
2	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Acronicta fallax	Green Marvel
3	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Acronicta funeralis	Funerary Dagger
4	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Acronicta insita	Large Gray Dagger
5	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Acronicta oblinita	Smeared Dagger
8	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Apantesis figurata	Figured Tiger Moth
9	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Apantesis virgo	Virgin Tiger Moth
12	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Arctia parthenos	St. Lawrence Tiger Moth
14	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Nolidae	Baileya doubledayi	Doubleday’s Baileya Moth
15	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Bellura obliqua	Cattail Borer Moth
19	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Calophasia lunula	Toadflax Brocade Moth
23	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Chytolita morbidalis	Morbid Owlet
25	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Cycnia tenera	Delicate Cycnia Moth
26	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Notodontidae	Datana contracta	Contracted Datana Moth
28	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Doryodes spadaria	Dull Doryodes Moth
29	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Elaphria alapallida	Pale-winged Midget
33	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Euchaetes egle	Milkweed Tussock Moth
37	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Eudryas grata	Beautiful Wood-nymph
38	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Eupsilia vinulenta	Straight-toothed Sallow
39	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Feltia herilis	Master’s Dart
44	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Haploa clymene	Clymene Moth
46	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Hypena manalis	Flowing-line Snout
52	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Lithophane baileyi	Bailey’s Pinion Moth
54	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Lophocampa caryae	Hickory Tussock Moth
58	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Maliattha synochitis	Black-dotted Glyph
62	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Mycterophora inexplicata	Pale-edged Snout Moth
64	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Neoligia exhausta	Exhausted Brocade
65	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing
67	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Oligia strigilis	Marbled Minor
68	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Panopoda rufimargo	Red-lined Panopoda Moth
75	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Psectraglaea carnosa	Pink Sallow
88	Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Erebidae	Zanclognatha laevigata	Variable Fan-foot
7	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Anatrytone logan	Delaware Skipper
20	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Carterocephalus mandan	Arctic Skipper
21	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Lycaenidae	Celastrina lucia	Northern Azure
24	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Coenonympha california	Common Ringlet
31	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Epargyreus clarus	Silver-spotted Skipper
32	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Erynnis juvenalis	Juvenal’s Duskywing
42	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Lycaenidae	Glaucopsyche lygdamus	Silvery Blue
49	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Lethe anthedon	Northern Pearly-eye
50	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Lethe appalachia	Appalachian Brown
51	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Limenitis arthemis arthemis	American White Admiral
53	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Lon hobomok	Hobomok Skipper
55	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Lycaenidae	Lycaena phlaeas hypophlaeas	Eastern American Copper
60	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Megisto cymela	Little Wood Satyr
66	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Nymphalis l-album	Compton Tortoiseshell
69	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Papilionidae	Papilio canadensis	Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
70	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Papilionidae	Papilio polyxenes	Black Swallowtail
72	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Phyciodes cocyta	Northern Crescent
77	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Lycaenidae	Satyrium liparops	Striped Hairstreak
82	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Speyeria cybele	Great Spangled Fritillary
85	Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Thymelicus lineola	Essex Skipper
40	Lepidoptera	Pterophoroidea	Pterophoridae	Geina buscki	Buck’s Plume Moth
6	Lepidoptera	Pyraloidea	Crambidae	Anania hortulata	Small Magpie
27	Lepidoptera	Pyraloidea	Crambidae	Donacaula longirostrallus	Long-beaked Donacaula Moth
30	Lepidoptera	Pyraloidea	Crambidae	Eoparargyractis plevie
47	Lepidoptera	Pyraloidea	Pyralidae	Hypsopygia olinalis	Yellow-fringed Dolichomia Moth
61	Lepidoptera	Pyraloidea	Crambidae	Microcrambus biguttellus	Gold-striped Grass-veneer
74	Lepidoptera	Pyraloidea	Pyralidae	Pococera expandens	Striped Oak Webworm Moth
78	Lepidoptera	Pyraloidea	Crambidae	Scoparia biplagialis	Double-striped Scoparia Moth
80	Lepidoptera	Pyraloidea	Crambidae	Sitochroa palealis	Carrot Seed Moth
83	Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Sphinx poecila	Northern Apple Sphinx
1	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Acleris forsskaleana	Maple Leaftier Moth
11	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Archips dissitana	Boldly-marked Archips Moth
22	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Cenopis reticulatana	Reticulated Fruitworm Moth
35	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Eucosma ochroterminana	Buff-tipped Eucosma Moth
36	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Eucosma parmatana	Aster Eucosma Moth
43	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Gymnandrosoma punctidiscanum	Dotted Gymnandrosoma Moth
71	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Pelochrista derelicta	Derelict Pelochrista Moth
73	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Platynota exasperatana	Exasperating Platynota Moth
81	Lepidoptera	Tortricoidea	Tortricidae	Sparganothis tristriata	Three-streaked Sparganothis Moth
10	Lepidoptera	Zygaenoidea	Limacodidae	Apoda biguttata	Shagreened Slug Moth
34	Lepidoptera	Zygaenoidea	Limacodidae	Euclea delphinii	Spiny Oak-slug Moth

Comparisons by Insect Families

Figure 1. Comparison of the number of species by family from modern iNaturalist data and historical data collected by Proctor in the 1900’s. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by iNaturalist and the National Park Service.

Pollinators

Table 2. This table shows the 65 pollinating species that the iNaturalist community identified and were not recorded by Proctor in the 1900s. Data collected on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA, and provided by iNaturalist and the National Park Service.

Click to show table

Order	Super family	Family	Scientific name	Common name
Hymenoptera	Apoidea	Apidae	Bombus griseocollis	Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Hymenoptera	Apoidea	Apidae	Bombus impatiens	Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Hymenoptera	Apoidea	Apidae	Xylocopa virginica	Eastern Carpenter Bee
Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Idaea dimidiata	Single-dotted Wave
Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Macaria aemulataria	Common Angle
Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Macaria pustularia	Lesser Maple Spanworm Moth
Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Nematocampa resistaria	Horned Spanworm Moth
Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Rheumaptera prunivorata	Cherry Scallop Shell Moth
Lepidoptera	Geometroidea	Geometridae	Xanthotype	Crocus Geometer Moths
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Anatrytone logan	Delaware Skipper
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Carterocephalus mandan	Arctic Skipper
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Epargyreus clarus	Silver-spotted Skipper
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Erynnis juvenalis	Juvenal’s Duskywing
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Lon hobomok	Hobomok Skipper
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Hesperiidae	Thymelicus lineola	Essex Skipper
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Lycaenidae	Celastrina lucia	Northern Azure
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Lycaenidae	Glaucopsyche lygdamus	Silvery Blue
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Lycaenidae	Lycaena phlaeas hypophlaeas	Eastern American Copper
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Lycaenidae	Satyrium liparops	Striped Hairstreak
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Acronicta fallax	Green Marvel
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Acronicta funeralis	Funerary Dagger
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Acronicta insita	Large Gray Dagger
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Acronicta oblinita	Smeared Dagger
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Bellura obliqua	Cattail Borer Moth
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Calophasia lunula	Toadflax Brocade Moth
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Elaphria alapallida	Pale-winged Midget
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Eudryas grata	Beautiful Wood-nymph
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Eupsilia vinulenta	Straight-toothed Sallow
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Feltia herilis	Master’s Dart
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Lithophane baileyi	Bailey’s Pinion Moth
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Maliattha synochitis	Black-dotted Glyph
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Neoligia exhausta	Exhausted Brocade
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Oligia strigilis	Marbled Minor
Lepidoptera	Noctuoidea	Noctuidae	Psectraglaea carnosa	Pink Sallow
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Coenonympha california	Common Ringlet
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Lethe anthedon	Northern Pearly-eye
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Lethe appalachia	Appalachian Brown
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Limenitis arthemis arthemis	American White Admiral
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Megisto cymela	Little Wood Satyr
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Nymphalis l-album	Compton Tortoiseshell
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Phyciodes cocyta	Northern Crescent
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Nymphalidae	Speyeria cybele	Great Spangled Fritillary
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Papilionidae	Papilio canadensis	Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Lepidoptera	Papilionoidea	Papilionidae	Papilio polyxenes	Black Swallowtail
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Aellopos titan	Titan Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Ceratomia undulosa	Waved Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Darapsa choerilus	Azalea Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Dolba hyloeus	Pawpaw Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Eumorpha pandorus	Pandorus Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Bombycoidea	Sphingidae	Hemaris aethra	Diervilla Clearwing
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Hemaris diffinis	Snowberry Clearwing
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Hemaris gracilis	Slender Clearwing
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Hemaris thysbe	Hummingbird Clearwing
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Hyles gallii	Bedstraw Hawkmoth
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Lapara bombycoides	Northern Pine Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Bombycoidea	Sphingidae	Manduca sexta	Carolina Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Pachysphinx modesta	Modest Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Paonias excaecata	Blinded Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Paonias myops	Small-eyed Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Smerinthus cerisyi	One-eyed Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Sphinx chersis	Great Ash Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Sphinx drupiferarum	Wild Cherry Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Sphinx kalmiae	Laurel Sphinx
Lepidoptera	Sphingoidea	Sphingidae	Sphinx poecila	Northern Apple Sphinx